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The first law that allowed cannabis to be used was enacted in 1996, 25 states and Columbia have implemented such laws, and another 17 have allowed products with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher percentages of CBD.

For this law to be enacted research and laboratory testing have been conducted the main focus being the therapeutic potential of CBD one of the plants major cannabinoids. CBD products are available in dispensaries and on internet. The FDA has not approved the artisanal preparations of CBD irrespective of THC content for safety or efficacy. State laws requiring quality control can be nonexistent and sometimes inconsistent.

The law surrounding marijuana does not specifically mention the constituents of the plant. Elements like unsterilized seeds, resin or leafy material from the plant are considered illegal, including CBD that is found in the leaves and resin of the pant. For this reason, CBD derived from marijuana is legal in 9 states, illegal in 4 and reserved for medicinal use only in the remaining 37 states.

A Brief History of Cannabis Legal Battle.

Marijuana’s long, tortuous legal battle began in the mid-1930s in United States. Marijuana was associated with insanity, aggression and criminal activities through propaganda films like “Reefer Madness” which was released in 1936. That is when the United States began campaigns against its use. Before these campaigns started, marijuana was sold freely in pharmacies across the world.

In 1936 there was a treaty signed by Geneva Trafficking Treaty. The treaty main aim was to ban, distribution, manufacture and cultivating cannabis products. The treaty includes cocoa and opium. This project was disregarded by some countries. This leads to the regulation of marijuana in Europe, Canada, and Australia.

In 1970 marijuana was banned from all forms of use including medical. This was as a result of the Controlled Substance Act which was passed in the United States. In the recent years, marijuana regulation has been revisited. The first change was to support the medicinal use and research. President Barrack Obama passed the Agricultural Act of 2014. Section 7606 of the Act outlined the legal classification of hemp and allowed the use of industrial hemp for research purposes. This lead to changes that include recreational usage of cannabis products both CBD and THC containing extracts from certain states such as Colorado in the early 2014.

Laws Regarding CBD

Agricultural Act of 2014

According to this Act, any Cannabis sativa plant with THC content below 0.3% is considered hemp as hemp is considered legal in the United States. Hemp is classified separately to allow for its industrial uses. Hemp is versatile. It has strong fibers which are used in making clothing, composites, and biodiesel.

Hemp is drought resistant and grows fast does not require pesticides. Hemp is a more sustainable source of fabric as compared to cotton, paper or wood. Hemp contains high amounts of CBD. The legislature does not regulate cannabinoids themselves. For this reason, extracts taken from legal help avoid regulation by the United States government that remain high in the therapeutically active CBD. Some states have come up with their own regulations for CBD despite the legal status of hem and its extracts in the eyes of the federal government.

Controlled Substance Act.

For United States, federal Controlled Substance Act (CSA) controls substances which are psychoactive or have signs of abuse potential. This law controls every stage including supply chain all involved parties including ultimate users who are patients and manufacturing. Control extends applied by this Act is determined by the substance classification. There are five schedules of classifications. Each schedule depends on substance medical effectiveness and abuse probability.

Substances found in schedule 1 are not accepted for medical use in the United States. They include marijuana and its cannabinoid components. This is because they have the potential for abuse lacking accepted safety methods for use. Substances in schedule 2-5 are accepted for medical use.

Food and Drug Administration Act. (FDA)

This act has enforcement actions relating to CBD oils. Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD$C) Act, any item is considered a drug if it is intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease. The FDA determines the intended use by reviewing advertisements and promotional statements used on websites by various sources. Only products that have been FDA approved are allowed to make medical claims.

CBD oil brands have to adhere to FDA standards by making sure all their products are not misbranded. FDA conducted a test that showed some vendors sell products that contain little-to-no CBD while other contained higher levels of THC than it is listed on the label.

Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill is a section of Agricultural Act. Farm Bill 2014 is considerate and has authorized institution whose purpose is higher education to grow hemp for research purposes. It has also extended this to state departments. For Farm Bill to be in use, industrial hemp is referred to Cannabis Sativa. Farm Bill Act has helped the hemp industry to be able to open department stores and grow marijuana in large numbers for mass production. Some states have interpreted Farm Bill as giving authorization and license to private cultivators who farm CBD and extract it and sell the end product to retail market.

Farm Bill has not changed requirements of FD$C Act, this includes a fact that therapeutic components to human research involving CBD will be conducted for approval by the IRB.

Take Away.

It is difficult to argue the medicinal benefits of CBD as more people become more aware of the benefits of this compound, it is likely that we will begin to see further changes in its legal status. CBD oil derived specifically from hemp has been fond legal in most of United States, while CBD derived from marijuana is legal in selected few. Whenever purchasing CBD, it is important to do some research on the specific states that you live in. This is because the legislation around this substance can vary a lot from one state to the next.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and some parts of the swampy areas in Southeast Asia. The plant gains fame due to its bitter leaves that constitute stimulant in low dosage and sedative effect in relatively high dosage. The plant benefits those who use it by brewing tea or chewing the leaves to get stimulation. Others blend the leaves into a paste and mix it several beverages or food. The commonly sought after properties of Kratom are 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine. A portion of the users also prefers ingesting it in capsules form in Canada.

Addicts of other substances like opiates report successful ease of symptoms related to opiate withdrawal. Consequently, they reported stopping the consumption of opiates completely. That suggests that the numerous properties of the Kratom add a lot of meaning to the life of those who battle addiction. If you need something that serves you with stimulation that does not result in addiction.

Would it not be interesting to have a drug that doesn’t have dangerous addiction consequences and also fights other addictions? Well, according to the American Kratom Association (AKA), the fight against drug addiction can only come to full realization only if Kratom gets a chance to show what it can offer. The movement argues that the numerous advantages of the plant should not go untapped. Also, the Association goes on to put efforts to counter the ban of the plant by the DEA who reason that the herb has safety concerns. A number of the Kratom’s uses are:

Fighting withdrawal syndromes

Relieving pain

Mental relaxation

Curbing cardiac-related complications

Brain stimulation

The American Kratom Association stresses that the plant has no harm and is of use despite its psychoactive part being almost the same as the one coffee gives. The difference is that coffee does not offer a solution to drug addiction, but Kratom does. According to the association, if the herb fails to achieve legalization, the users may turn to the black market which will contribute to unlawfulness.

At a personal level, Kratom has been proven to contain chemical components that can contribute to the well-being of your hormones in making them balanced. On the same breath, the components found in the leaves of this herb help the blood vessels to transport blood properly. Due to that, blood pressure complications reduce. Due to the ability of these components to ease cardiovascular tension, it contributes hugely to minimizing heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues related to the heart.

When it comes to diet concerns, the herb serves in the addition of appetite. Also, the leaves are rich in fiber and other macronutrients. Moreover, the medicinal and nutritional values of this plant don’t have a limitation to analgesic properties.

Kratom displays some useful properties of pain relieving. Also, if you seek a viable alternative to caffeine, the herb serves you right. Those who use it for these two reasons experience wonderful results and opt to stick to it. Another outstanding use of this Southeast Asia herb is that it can enable you to stay alert. The story of one video editor puts this clear. He states that as he settled on his work one horrible day, he could not concentrate due to the heavy sleep that hung in his head. After taking Maeng Da Kratom and waiting for around thirty minutes, he became fully awake, and his mind worked perfectly.

Anyone thinking that Kratom has no shortcomings might be very mistaken. For one, if you take too much of it, it will turn out badly on you. For you to reap the full benefits of Kratom, you need to take only the right dosage. Bear in mind that anything too much turns out poisonous. For example, if you need to ween of opiates, you need to take small dosages of the herb and increase it gradually as you go. Eventually, you reach the optimum dosage, and before you realize it, you no longer have a craving for opiates. So, that tells you that you should take the products of this herb with moderation.

Where To Buy Kratom Online

Many different stores and review sites exist that offer various coupons and promo codes.

Kratomincanada.ca is a great resource for those looking to learn about all things Kratom.

That last page is particularly great if you are looking for kratom in Canada.

You must do your research if you want to get a quality product.

Additionally, Kratom offers those who suffer withdrawal syndrome an alternative. A better way to fight these syndromes without incurring side effects related to other methods of medication. The herb gives this portion of the populace hopes to begin a new life by contributing hugely to curbing withdrawal. Try out the Kratom products to curb an addition and withdrawal syndrome that is if you have the condition. Moreover, you can use the herb if you don’t have the condition to stimulate your brain receptors and to energize yourself.

Ongoing Kratom Science

The scientific research on Kratom continues to reveal more advantages related to the herb, and there is a possibility of more discoveries. Currently, the plant serves the populace with a lot of advantages. However, the Kratom faces challenges from some bodies such as the DEA and other legal formalities. Although the herb has not received full support within the U.S, some countries in Europe and Asia embrace the herb and its benefits. Most of these countries that recognize it go to the extent of commercializing it.

The consumers who come from where the herb grows naturally like Thailand and Southeast Asia use the herb directly from the tree without processing it. That helps them to get fresh supplies of the herb’s components. According to these locals, the plant facilitates the locals with natural stimulation as well as medicine for various ailments. Since the leaves are chewable direct from the plant, farmers in these regions use them to gain work momentum due to the stimulation effect they offer. On the other hand, those who prefer smoking dry the leaves and smoke them.

Kratom contributes a lot in the medicinal world even the though full realization of this fact is yet to come. The few individuals who recognize the benefits of the herb admit the help that the herb renders to them. On the same note, the herb provides dietary value to every consumer. There are numerous gains related to this herb and many who tap them harvest them with profit.

• CBD oil is also good for reducing chronic pain because it interacts with neurotransmitters. Although most of the studies investigating the relation between CBD oil and neurotransmitters were performed on rats, this research hints to the fact that CBD tones down the sensorial and affective aspects of pain.
• CBD is a potential cure for epilepsy. In one study, medical CBD oil was administered to 5 Israeli kids diagnosed with epilepsy. It was found that this treatment minimized the frequency of their seizures and helped to improve their communication and motor skills.
• Perhaps the greatest benefit of CBD oil is the fact that it has anti-cancer properties. Not only can CBD prevent the formation of cancer cells but also acts as a curative agent for leukemia. However, more research involving human subjects needs to be performed to verify CBD capabilities.
• CBD has also shown anti-nausea effects. Although this particular study was carried out on rats, it has proven that CBD helps in alleviating nausea and vomiting.

Are There Any Downsides?

Any drug that has an impact on your body also has a potential to cause undesirable effects, and CBD is no exception.
Sadly, any unwanted secondary effects of CBD are as poorly researched as its benefits, making it difficult to determine what exactly to expect. In a 2017 review, it was found that the most common side effects reported by CBD oil users include diarrhea, fatigue, a decrease/increase in appetite.
It’s also said that CBD has an effect on liver enzymes. It means that it can affect how other medications perform. One FDA committee raised concerns that Epidiolex- a pure CBD extract- could result in liver injury. So, if you plan to take this product, you should have your liver enzymes monitored.
Another problem of using CBD oil medication revolves around the fact that most products are not what they purport to be. In 2017, a study was conducted on 84 CBD-containing products that are sold online. It was discovered that only about 31% of these had the exact amount of CBD indicated on their labels. At least 42% of them were under-labeled, meaning they contained higher amounts than those indicated while 26% contained less than the content indicated. In the last case, it means that consumers got less than what they were paying for. Some of them even had THC, yet the reason why people opt for CBD is so that they don’t experience the psychoactive effects of THC.

Bottom Line

It’s an irrefutable fact that CBD has a wide range of health benefits. These include alleviating chronic pain, soothing anxiety patients, combatting cancer and promoting a healthy heart. But like any other medication, CBD oil can result in side effects such as changes in appetite. As such, you should be careful about the dosage of CBD oil that you take. Whenever possible, start by consulting a physician who deals in the medical use of marijuana. Secondly, research on the best CBD oil products to buy. Read online reviews from other customers to establish whether the company you’re purchasing from is reputable.

{ Saturday, January 21, 2006 }
10:51 AM | link
From a piece by Molly Ivins titled I Will Not Support Hillary Clinton for President:
The majority of the American people (55 percent) think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out. The majority (65 percent) of the American people want single-payer health care and are willing to pay more taxes to get it. The majority (86 percent) of the American people favor raising the minimum wage. The majority of the American people (60 percent) favor repealing Bush’s tax cuts, or at least those that go only to the rich. The majority (66 percent) wants to reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending, but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes. The majority (77 percent) thinks we should do “whatever it takes” to protect the environment. The majority (87 percent) thinks big oil companies are gouging consumers and would support a windfall profits tax. That is the center, you fools. WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

…Bush, Cheney and Co. will continue to play the patriotic bully card just as long as you let them. I’ve said it before: War brings out the patriotic bullies. In World War I, they went around kicking dachshunds on the grounds that dachshunds were “German dogs.” They did not, however, go around kicking German shepherds. The MINUTE someone impugns your patriotism for opposing this war, turn on them like a snarling dog and explain what loving your country really means. That, or you could just piss on them elegantly, as Rep. John Murtha did. Or eviscerate them with wit (look up Mark Twain on the war in the Philippines). Or point out the latest in the endless “string of bad news.”

Do not sit there cowering and pretending the only way to win is as Republican-lite. If the Washington-based party can’t get up and fight, we’ll find someone who can.
1 comments

{ Sunday, January 08, 2006 }
1:00 AM | link
Progress on my 2006 reading goals: 2 out of 52
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg—After reading just the first couple of chapters, I knew I’d love this book. The characters are delicious, especially the main character’s uncles! Their tiffs are hilarious. And at the heart of the story is an interesting discussion of history, art, and property values. I highly recommend this middle-grade novel, even for adults.
Two or Three Things I Know for Sure by Dorothy Allison—This was an interesting memoir, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I were familiar with any of the author’s other work. But it was a very quick read (less than 100 pages) and wonderful writing.
0 comments

{ Sunday, January 01, 2006 }
11:04 PM | link
Last year I kept track of how many books I read, and it was kind of pitiful. For someone who has hundreds of unread books in her house, I’m not making much progress. My total for 2005 was 29. Next year, I’ll try for 52. We’ll see how that goes…

But here’s the run-down of what I read in 2005. My big favorites for the year are in bold, and I would highly recommend them.
The Hip Mama Survival Guide: Advice from the Trenches on Pregnancy, Childbirth, Cool Names, Clueless Doctors, Potty Training and Toddler Avengers by Ariel Gore

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott

How to Write a Children’s Book and Get It Published by Barbara Seuling

Mothering Magazine’s Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Peggy O’Mara

Frindle by Andrew Clements

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) by J. K. Rowling

Necessary Dreams: Ambition in Women’s Changing Lives by Anna Fels

Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop

The Blue Jay’s Dance by Louise Erdrich

Edwina Victorious by Susan Bonners

Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate by George Lakoff

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Until I Find You by John Irving

A Beginner’s Guide to Changing the World: A True Life Adventure Story by Isabel Losada

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America Barbara Ehrenreich

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Summerland by Michael Chabon

Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
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{ Sunday, December 25, 2005 }
9:53 PM | link
Tonight we went to see Walk the Line. I hadn’t even heard more than one of Johnny Cash’s songs let alone heard his life story, and it was a great story.

We saw it at a local theater that instead of showing ads before the movie showed clips of Johnny performing throughout the years. They played a clip of him singing “The Man in Black,” which before tonight I hadn’t realized was an actual song in addition to being his tagline. The song moved me, especially with it being Christmas night. So I thought I’d share the lyrics:
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me.

Well, we’re doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there oughta be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believin’ that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believin’ that we all were on their side.

Well, there’s things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin’ everywhere you go,
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything’s okay,
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
‘Til things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black
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{ Sunday, December 11, 2005 }
9:06 PM | link
I just finished reading Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco and thought I’d share my review of it:
I started this book this afternoon and finished it before bedtime. The author’s story is engrossing yet so sad. I wasn’t popular in school by any means, but luckily I experienced not one iota of what the author had to endure. Hopefully this book will bring bullying to the forefront of parents’ and teachers’ minds and encourage them to learn more about effective responses to bullying.

My only minor criticism of the book is that I wished the author had commented more on how very lucky she was to have all the resources at her disposal that she did — a seemingly affluent family that for example, could whisk her out of the country on a moment’s notice. My heart goes out to kids who have to deal with bullying without those luxuries.

But I hope more parents, teachers, bullies, and the bullied read this book. Here are some resources that she lists at the back of the book for those needing help or wanting to learn more:
KidsPeace
Bullying Online
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
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{ Tuesday, December 06, 2005 }
8:45 AM | link
As much as possible this holiday season, I’m going to try to simplify. We just finished purging a car-and-a-half full of crap from our closets that we never use, so we certainly don’t need to perpetuate the cycle by getting each other more crap that we won’t use.

Here are a few of the things we’re trying this holiday season:
Instead of a secret santa or white elephant party, we’re having a party and asking people to bring a toy or non-perishable food item to donate to a local group that’s helping needy families.
We’re setting dollar limits on what we spend on each other.
We’ll try to give inexpensive gifts or make donations in the name of friends and family. We’ll also try to buy gifts from nonprofit organizations—the dog rescue group we work with is selling 2006 calendars as a way to raise money for the group’s work, so we’ll buy those as gifts and support the group while we’re at it.
If you have more ideas, please post them!
2 comments

{ Monday, October 24, 2005 }
11:14 PM | link
I need help! I’m participating in my local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in less than 2 weeks and I haven’t received a single pledge! If you can spare a buck or two (or more!), please consider making a pledge to support my participation.

The Komen Austin affiliate uses the funds raised in the Race for the Cure to fund breast cancer education, screening, and treatment programs in our own community and to support the national search for a cure. At a time when one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, this work is vital.
0 comments

{ Friday, September 02, 2005 }
7:33 AM | link
I thought I’d share the letter I sent to the President this morning. I woke up to the news on NPR this morning, and I just started bawling and shaking in anger. I know this won’t accomplish anything tangible, but I had to send it. I think I might call the switchboard today too.
To President Bush:

I heard on the radio this morning that a 10-year-old girl in the New Orleans convention center was raped yesterday. There are dead bodies out front and people inside without food and water. There are people in hospitals dying because the generators aren’t working and the workers can’t keep the patients alive without electricity to help. The people needing to be rescued in New Orleans haven’t seen FEMA or the Red Cross, and the governor of Louisiana says there aren’t enough National Guard troops to keep the order.

This is the consequence of your war in Iraq. Utter chaos and American citizens dying of starvation, dehydration, and worse. I will have to learn to forgive you one day for these unimaginable sins, but I hope you never forget what you did to these people.

I heard you flew over the area in a helicopter two days after the hurricane was over, and that’s it. At least have the decency to look like you care, to look like you’re doing something. But better yet, get your act together and fix this problem. I am outraged and saddened beyond belief. I am not an angry person by nature, but as I type this, I am shaking with anger I have never felt in my life.

These people are dying. Do everything in your power to fix this. Right now.

Sincerely,
Kelly Holmes
Austin, Texas
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{ Tuesday, June 14, 2005 }
8:32 PM | link
About a month ago, Granny D gave a wonderful commencement speech at Hampshire College. You should read the whole thing, but here’s a taste:
Accept no leaders who would lead you with fear or angerÂ?who are forever dividing and punishing the people instead of uniting, encouraging and empowering them. Great leaders lead from a better vision of a possible future. Great leadersÂ?and you must include yourself in thisÂ?lead themselves, their families, friends, communities, nations and their world from the great, golden idea that people should be free and should in every way be encouraged to fulfill their highest potentials and live life responsibly as they choose. Great leadership comes from love, and great societies come from confident, mass empowerment.
3 comments

{ Monday, June 13, 2005 }
8:43 AM | link
Texas Representative Senfronia Thompson speaking on the anti-gay marriage amendment:
When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about “protecting the institution of marriage” as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum’s color, you’d often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. . . . Fifty years ago, white folks thought interracial marriages were “a threat to the institution of marriage.”

Members, I’m a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, “Gay people can’t marry.” I have never read the verse where it says, “Thou shalt discriminate against those not like me.” I have never read the verse where it says, “Let’s base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination.” Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness — not hate and discrimination.
After this speech, the Texas House passed the amendment.
1 comments

{ Tuesday, May 24, 2005 }
6:22 PM | link
Some bits from Howard Zinn’s commencement speech at Spelman College:
I am a veteran of the Second World War. That was considered a “good war,” but I have come to the conclusion that war solves no fundamental problems and only leads to more wars. War poisons the minds of soldiers, leads them to kill and torture, and poisons the soul of the nation.

My hope is that your generation will demand that your children be brought up in a world without war. It we want a world in which the people of all countries are brothers and sisters, if the children all over the world are considered as our children, then war — in which children are always the greatest casualties — cannot be accepted as a way of solving problems…

My hope is that you will not be content just to be successful in the way that our society measures success; that you will not obey the rules, when the rules are unjust; that you will act out the courage that I know is in you.

…do what you can — you don’t have to do something heroic, just something, to join with millions of others who will just do something, because all of those somethings, at certain points in history, come together, and make the world better.
0 comments

{ Tuesday, May 17, 2005 }
7:39 AM | link
Join a BUY-cott: buy your gas at Citgo!
Citgo is a U.S. refining and marketing firm that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company. Money you pay to Citgo goes primarily to Venezuela — not Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. There are 14,000 Citgo gas stations in the US…By buying your gasoline at Citgo, you are contributing to the billions of dollars that Venezuela’s democratic government is using to provide health care, literacy and education, and subsidized food for the majority of Venezuelans. …

Of course, if you can take mass transit or bike or walk to your job, you should do so. And we should all work for political changes that move our country toward a cleaner environment based on renewable energy. The BUYcott is for those of us who don’t have a practical alternative to filling up our cars.
1 comments

Tonight I went to BookPeople in Austin to hear from Jodie Evans about the new book Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism. It features essays from over 70 people involved in peace work, and if the talk by Ms. Evans is any indication, it kicks ass.

The book tour might be coming to your area soon, so be sure to check! Upcoming cities include Santa Fe, Houston, Portland, LA, Salt Lake City, Tempe, Tucson, and so on. And while you’re at it, check out the Code Pink action alerts—they only come out once or twice a week, so it shouldn’t swamp your inbox.
0 comments

{ Tuesday, December 28, 2004 }
7:43 PM | link
Are you tired of receiving those ShopWise mailers that you just throw in the trash or recycling bin? You can get off their mailing list by filling out a simple form.

Every year, junk mail:
Creates 4 million tons of unnecessary waste
Fills 3% of American landfills
Steals 320 million of your tax dollars for disposal fees
Destroys 62 million trees
Uses 28 billion gallons of water for paper processing
What a waste. Check out JunkBusters and this do-it yourself guide for more easy tips to decrease the amount of junk mail you get.
3 comments

{ Thursday, December 16, 2004 }
12:32 PM | link
A truck carrying 12 million honeybees hit a wall on a highway ramp in Las Vegas, dumping the bees on the pavement.
Authorities summoned beekeepers to help but decided capturing the bees alive would take too much time and money. Firefighters doused the insects with water to kill them.
First of all, it’s ridiculous that we have to truck in bees to pollinate crops. But unfortunately, by using pesticides, encouraging sprawl-type growth, and introducing invasive non-native species into existing habitats, we’ve systematically destroyed natural habitats for pollinators.

As a great man once said:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Gandhi